3 syllables: clev, er, ly. Stress on clev.
KLEV-ur-lee
/ˈklɛvɚli/
cleverly is pronounced KLEV-ur-lee (/ˈklɛvɚli/). It has three syllables (clev-er-ly), with the stress on "clev". Cleverly is an adverb meaning in a clever or skillful way, often implying ingenuity or sly tact. It describes doing something with intelligence, wit, or deftness, typically with a slight undertone of craft or misdirection. The term focuses on the manner of action rather than the action itself, and is commonly used to modify verbs or whole clauses.
Cleverly is an adverb meaning in a clever or skillful way, often implying ingenuity or sly tact. It describes doing something with intelligence, wit, or deftness, typically with a slight undertone of craft or misdirection. The term focuses on the manner of action rather than the action itself, and is commonly used to modify verbs or whole clauses.
- Misplacing stress or flattening the first syllable into a lax /klɛvərli/; keep strong initial CL- and a distinct -er- before the final -ly. - Over-articulating the middle /r/ in non-rhotic contexts; aim for a light /ɚ/ rather than a full rhotic vowel. - Compressing the final -ly into a single quick sound; ensure the -ly remains light and quick (not a separate overt vowel).
"She cleverly redirected the conversation to avoid awkward questions."
"The scheme was cleverly concealed in plain sight, fooling most observers."
"He cleverly solved the puzzle by noticing a subtle pattern others missed."
Pronounce as /ˈklɛvərli/ in US/UK/AU. The primary stress is on the first syllable CLEV, with a quick, reduced -er- in the second syllable and a clear -ly ending. Tip: keep the /v/ audible and avoid turning the /ər/ into a schwa in rapid speech; aim for /ˈklɛv-ər-li/ with a light, unstressed middle.
Common errors include articulating /ˈklivərli/ with a long /i/ instead of the short /ɛ/ in the first syllable, and reducing /ɚ/ too much so it sounds like /ˈklæv li/ or /ˈklɛvli/. Another pitfall is pronouncing the final -ly as a separate syllable with equal emphasis, rather than a quick, light -li. Focus on a clipped middle /ər/ and keep /-li/ light and unstressed.
In General US, UK, and AU, the initial CL is /kl/, with /ɛ/ in the first vowel; rhoticity affects only the vowel preceding -ly: US rhotic accents keep a clear /ɚ/ in the second syllable in some speakers, while UK/AU may reduce /ə/ differently. Overall, the rhythm remains stress on first syllable; the difference is subtle vowel quality and the degree of rhoticity, not the basic syllable structure.
The challenge lies in the quick sequence /ˈklɛv-ər-li/ where the middle /ər/ can become a reduced rhotacized schwa or a simple schwa. Maintaining the crisp /v/ and avoiding a triphthong or extra vowel is key. Additionally, not turning the final -ly into a heavy syllable and keeping it light helps the word sound natural in fluent speech.
No letters are silent in clever-ly. All four syllables play a phonetic role: /klɛv/ /ər/ /li/. The potential confusion comes from reduced vowels in connected speech, where /ər/ can reduce toward a schwa, but you still pronounce the consonants clearly.
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- US: emphasize the /ɚ/ in the second syllable slightly, maintain rhoticity if your speech is rhotic; the -ly should be unstressed and quick. /ˈklɛvərli/ - UK: more non-rhotic tendency; the /ɜː/ may be realized as a short schwa or a centralized vowel; keep the /v/ precise and the -ly lightly attached. /ˈklɛvəli/ - AU: similar to UK with a more relaxed vowel quality; keep rhotics soft or non-rhotic depending on speaker; ensure the final -ly is light and quick. /ˈklɛvəli/
Cleverly derives from the adjective clever, which emerged in Middle English as clivere or clivere-like forms from the 13th century, influenced by the Old Norse or Dutch notions of cleverness and craft. The root likely traces to the Proto-Germanic *klub-
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cleverly" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cleverly" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cleverly"
-rly sounds
-ely sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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